1865 TO 1878 389 



through the troubled years of the early existence of the 

 Institution and during the Civil War, no expenditure 

 was made without the personal approval of the Sec- 

 retary. Not a whiskbroom could be bought without a 

 full explanation of the necessity for it and the Professor's / 

 approval of the order. This rigid economy was necessary 

 and bore good fruit. But with the establishment of 

 complete confidence in Baird, and the increasing duties 

 and declining strength which came with age, Professor 

 Henry decided to place in Baird's hands the whole 

 matter of the disbursements for the Museum and the 

 control of its working force. This was a welcome relief 

 for many reasons, including the discipline of the laborers 

 employed. 



The summer was chiefly passed at Eastport, Maine, 

 on Fish Commission duty, and included a visit to Nova 

 Scotia and conferences there with Fisheries officials. He 

 first met his future associate and successor G. Brown 

 Goode at Eastporf^ August 3rd. September i8th he had 

 a conference with Professor N. S. Shaler of Harvard, in 

 relation to his project of establishing a seaside zoological 

 laboratory. October i8th he received a committee from 

 the Chicago Academy of Sciences, offering him a high 

 salary and the position of Director of its Museum, which 

 they hoped to renew, aided by his reputation. The offer 

 was, of course, not accepted. On the I9th his brother, 

 William M. Baird, the close associate of his early struggles, 

 died at Reading. After attending the funeral Baird 

 returned to Washington on the 23rd. About the end of 

 November Goode arrived at the Smithsonian, where he 

 was engaged at work during the winter. 



In 1873 Professor Louis Agassiz made his last visit 

 to Washington, where he remained from the i$th to the 



